Looks like they are now trying to introduce a new character..the big black bouncer guy.

Yeah, first time I remember seeing him. He sure was ready to bounce that nasty little guy with the fake statue thingy. Too bad Rick told him to back off. That would have been entertaining! Actually I was surprised that the old man was so nice and explained in a reasonable tone to the guy that the statue wasn't for them.

I have semi recently caught up on this show, and really enjoy it. Is one of my favorites.

Been reading through the thread and will share a few of my own comments. Sure a lot of the stuff is staged, but I don't think the nuts and bolts are really staged.

As for the experts, I suspect the experts do the consulting for several reasons. 1) The get their expertise and business acknowledged on tv, which is of great value to them. 2) Rick likely looks out for items for them that they may be interested in and give them the first chance to purchase said items.

I doubt there are specific fees paid in most cases. As for someone like the Museum guy, that is what he does, so he probably enjoys seeing these items. I also suspect most of the experts like doing it because it provides them the chance to see stuff they would not otherwise get.

I don't think they use experts nearly as often for every day purchases as they do for the show, but I guess those items are special and thus why they end up on the show. Part of the reason why I believe they do get the appraisal in front of the customer is it sends a message to customers of their honesty. You watch the show and see that the guy appraises it for $1500 at an auction, you know Rick is not going to offer $1500. He is going to offer $500 and pay $700.

It buys them credibility with the general population and the average customer, and it also likely makes their job negotiating easier.

I do enjoy the show. I recorded it when it first came on but never watched it. I think some other channel had a pawn themed show on at the same time. But have caught up most episodes and watching the new ones.. Just a real entertaining show. Having never been in a pawn shop this makes me interested. As for things that go on in this shop in terms of knowledge, and items and such. This is a seemingly unique pawn shop, where the owners have a lot of knowledge that covers a lot of territory. This is likely why this shop has a tv show about it. Because of their knowledge and interesting items. I doubt the producers just randomly picked a pawn shop out of the phone book.

Been reading through the thread and will share a few of my own comments. Sure a lot of the stuff is staged, but I don't think the nuts and bolts are really staged.

That's about my feelings as well. The producers don't go around asking for people to bring in odd items. Just just sit back and wait for the guys to bring in a list of people that stopped by with something unique and they pick which ones get called back. The intros are probably staged. They already know what the person has and might already have the expert in back enjoying a beverage while the setup is filmed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marksman

As for the experts, I suspect the experts do the consulting for several reasons. 1) The get their expertise and business acknowledged on tv, which is of great value to them. 2) Rick likely looks out for items for them that they may be interested in and give them the first chance to purchase said items.

Probably a whole lot more of #2 then #1. The antique arms and armor guy bought that key gun right away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marksman

I don't think they use experts nearly as often for every day purchases as they do for the show, but I guess those items are special and thus why they end up on the show.

I think while the show is going they are making appointments for the special items and everything else is business as usually. I've seen both Rick and Corey mention several times that their business is 55% pawn but I've only heard one customer prefer to pawn their item over selling it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marksman

Having never been in a pawn shop this makes me interested. As for things that go on in this shop in terms of knowledge, and items and such. This is a seemingly unique pawn shop, where the owners have a lot of knowledge that covers a lot of territory. This is likely why this shop has a tv show about it. Because of their knowledge and interesting items. I doubt the producers just randomly picked a pawn shop out of the phone book.

They got picked because they are family run and not a corporate store like Cash America or Super Pawn or any other chain. If anyone would ever bring in any item seen on Pawn Stars to the chain stores I'd lay good money that it was a stolen item.

How bad do things have to be, before you'd come in there to pawn or sell a $40 item? I'm amazed at some of the crap people bring in there! Have you ever heard of Ebay, people?!?

You can't really pawn stuff on ebay. I'm also sure that there is a good % of the population that hasn't heard of ebay or have no idea how it works. People who desperately need $40 probably don't even have an internet connection.

My bad...it's the first time I've embedded a YT video here, and I still can't get it to load properly even though I seem to have followed the instructions correctly. Talk about a back asswards plugin...seems to be more hassle than it's worth.

My bad...it's the first time I've embedded a YT video here, and I still can't get it to load properly even though I seem to have followed the instructions correctly. Talk about a back asswards plugin...seems to be more hassle than it's worth.

Looks like you figured it out. It's totally counter intuitive to have that first Popup screen appear. Most people would assume that you are supposed to paste the code in there. I know I did the first time... They should just get rid of that popup and go straight to the tags in the post.

__________________Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by human error

I'm convinced ChumLee is fed some of his lines. He cracks me up with his stupidity but some of the idiot things he says have to be rehearsed...they're too good.

Almost everything you see is scripted to some degree; that's just the way it is with reality TV these days. Did you really think Rick knows so much about every subject as soon as the customer walks in?